Communication Strategies for International Graduate Students (CSIGS) are e-manuals primarily for international and newcomer graduate students to familiarize them with the norms of communication in Canada and the United States. International students need to be familiar with norms about communication in order to be successful when they teach, communicate with their supervisors, and apply for jobs, as cultural differences exist in all of these realms. Those who work with international students will benefit from reading CSIGS to become aware of alternate norms of communication in order to support, understand, and work productively with students from other cultural backgrounds.

CSIGS is available in two editions with culture-specific information for ITAs who work in Canada and for those who work in the United States. The e-manuals contain over 20 units about the norms and expectations surrounding teaching and being a graduate student in North America, including how to give and receive feedback, the language of teaching, and developing productive relationships with supervisors.

The purchase of a single copy entitles students, faculty, and staff at nonprofit educational institutions to access.

How to Access:

There are two ways to access the CSIGS e-manual:

CSIGS is currently available free of charge to everybody at the following universities. If you attend one of these universities, you may access CSIGS free of charge. Please email <tsc@uwo.ca> to set up an account.